This morning Tucson Police Department officers at about 6:25 a.m., responded to a 911 call in the 5600 block of South Abbottsford Drive. A female reported that someone was repeatedly ringing her doorbell but would not answer her when she asked who it was. She was unable see who was at her door and could not give any type of description to the 911 operator.
Two officers responded and made contact with the homeowner. As the officers were leaving the residence, they observed two males walking on Abbottsford Drive towards them. One male immediately began walking eastbound on Bathurst Road and the other continued northbound towards the officers. The officers, still on foot, separated and contacted both individuals. Officer Jesus Arriola, a 5-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department contacted the subject that remained on Abbottsford Drive. The subject immediately ran westbound into the backyard of a residence. Officer Arriola gave chase and gave repeated commands for the subject to stop. He then observed the subject hands down by his waistband as he ran westbound through the backyard.
Officer Arriola used his department issued taser on the subject in an attempt to subdue him. After being tased, the subject turned and faced Officer Arriola with a handgun in his hand and began to point it in his direction. Officer Arriola fired his department issued firearm at the subject multiple times. The subject was struck, but climbed over a block wall and continued running westbound.
Containment was set in the area and a search was conducted for the subject. Meanwhile, the second subject that originally walked away eastbound, was detained by the other officer. At about 7:30 a.m., as officers were still searching for the injured subject, they were advised that a male arrived at a local area hospital with gunshot trauma. Officers responded and were able to confirm that this was the subject involved in the shooting on Abbottsford Drive.
Homicide Detectives and personnel from the Office of Internal Affairs responded to continue the investigation. They spoke to the officers involved, both subjects, and at least one witness to the shooting incident. It appears at this time that the two subjects, although walking together when officers saw them, are not associated to each other in any way. Detectives were unable to determine if either of the two subjects was involved in the original call to 911 involving someone ringing the complainants doorbell.
Detectives recovered the handgun that the subject dropped in the backyard of the residence during the shooting incident. The subject that produced the handgun during the foot chase was identified as a 17-year old male. Detectives determined that after being shot, the subject ran to a nearby apartment complex where he resides. He was taken to the hospital by a family member. He has non-life threatening injuries and remains in a local area hospital. Charges against him are pending.
The second subject that was detained was identified as a 20-year old male. He was interviewed and later released. Officer Arriola was not injured during the incident.
Homicide Detectives continue their criminal investigation into the incident. Personnel from the Office of Internal Affairs are conducting an Administrative Investigation to ensure proper procedures and applicable policies were followed.